Sun. Sept. 8, 2013 (Evan Kreider)

When we welcomed the MSC residents for another school year, Evan Kreider spoke about the account of Naaman’s healing. Naaman, a general in the Aramean army, had leprosy. A Hebrew slave girl, working in Naaman’s household, suggested that Naaman visit a Jewish prophet in Samaria for a cure. Rather than receiving Naaman, Elisha sends a message to Naaman to cure his affliction by dipping himself seven times in the Jordan river. Naaman feels snubbed by the prophet, refuses and prepares to return home. His slaves beg him to try it, he does, and is healed. He returns to Elisha with gifts that are refused. No conditions were placed on Naaman; Elisha did not ask him to convert. He now accepts the God of the Hebrews. Naaamna asks Elisha to forgive him for having to worship at the temple of Rimmon as part of obligations to the king of Syria. Elisha’s parting words: go in peace. How do we allow our faith to interact with a post-Christian culture? [HN]

Listen to the sermon audio MP3 recording from Sunday, September 8th, 2013 using your browser's preferred media player.